Gunsmoke (TV Series 1955–1975) - Gunsmoke (TV Series 1955–1975) - User Reviews

9/10

Not only a good Western,but action drama at its best

raysond30 April 2002

For the 20 years that it ran on CBS,"Gunsmoke" was the essential Western to watch. Not only it was about a Marshal who retain law and order in Dodge City in the 1800's,but set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Kansas frontier. The stories kept its viewers on edge no matter what its characters were going through as Matt Dillon(played by James Arness) kept the peace alongside his deputies Chester Goode(Dennis Weaver from 1955-1964 for 290 episodes),Quint Aspen(Burt Reynolds from 1962-1965 for 50 episodes),Festus Hagen(Ken Curtis from 1964-1975 for 304 episodes),Thad Greene(Roger Ewing from 1965-1967 for 51 episodes)and Newly O'Brian(played by Buck Taylor from 1967-1975 for 174 episodes). It also had Matt Dillon's love interest Miss Kitty(Amanda Blake from 1955-1974 for 568 episodes)and the resourceful medical physician Doc Adams(Milburn Stone),and Sam (Glenn Strange from 1961-1975 for 238 episodes),and Miss Hannah(Fran Ryan from 1974-1975 for 26 episodes. Amanda Blake left the series at the end of the show's 19th season and was replaced by Fran Ryan in the final season). Only actors James Arness and Milburn Stone remained with the series as the only cast members that stayed throughout it's 20-year run.

Out of the 635 episodes that "Gunsmoke" produced,the series premiered on September 10,1955 with the episode "Matt Gets It". From September 10, 1955 until June 17, 1961 there were 233 half-hour black and white episodes. On September 30,1961 the show expanded to a hour long format that produced 176 episodes in black and white until May 7,1966. Then on September 17,1966 the show evolved from 11 seasons in black and white to color for 266 episodes until the final episode of the series on March 31,1975. During the first few seasons of "Gunsmoke" the show was in the top ten of the Nielsens becoming a huge Saturday night prime time favorite between 1955-1961 where the show became a phenomenon. By 1967, in it's 13th season, CBS made the decision to move the series from Saturday nights to Monday nights where it was back at the top of the ratings,due to a new audience and a earlier time slot. Between Seasons 13 thru 20 saw "Gunsmoke" surging back into the Top Ten of the Nielsens becoming one of the top five shows on television between 1967-1975.

The astounding success of "Gunsmoke" spawned seven Prime-Time Emmy nominations during it's run winning four Prime-Time Emmys in 1958(Best Dramatic Series);1959(Best Supporting Actor-Dennis Weaver);1968(Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role-Milburn Stone);1970(Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing). "Gunsmoke" was nominated for four Golden Globes with actress Amanda Blake for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series three times in 1970,1971 and 1972. Golden Globe nominated also when to Milburn Stone for Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1972. Golden Globe nominations also went to Ken Curtis and James Arness as well. When "Gunsmoke" ended it's run in 1975 it marked the end of the television Western...an astounding feat that when it was on the air during the early-1970's it surpass it's rival "Bonanza" which was already off the air two years earlier. When it was abruptly canceled on March 31,1975(with the final episode of the series "The Sharecroppers") the cast had no warning and learned their fate from media outlets. On September 8, 1975 the two shows that replaced the long-running "Gunsmoke" were two spinoffs of CBS' "Mary Tyler Moore Show" which were "Rhoda",and "Phyllis" that were placed on it's prime- time Monday night schedule. James Arness reprised the role of Marshal Dillon for six made for television movies based on "Gunsmoke" that aired on CBS between 1987 and 1994 featuring the original cast that includes Ken Curtis, Amanda Blake and Buck Taylor.

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9/10

When You're Talking TV Westerns

bkoganbing26 May 2008

When you're talking TV westerns there are only two really that are at the top, interchangeably as it were. One is CBS's Gunsmoke and the other is NBC's Bonanza. Then you discuss anything else.

It's interesting to speculate how John Wayne's career might have taken a different turn had he accepted the offer to star in a weekly half hour television show about the Marshal of Dodge City. But of course he didn't do it, but instead pushed hard for an even taller marshal for the Kansas frontier town. James Arness had co-starred with the Duke in Big Jim McLain, Island in the Sky, and Hondo. He certainly brought a Duke like presence to the role of Marshal Matt Dillon.

A lot of people forget that Gunsmoke was a radio series for several years before it came to television. It ran parallel on radio in the declining years of radio drama and the voice of Matt Dillon on the radio was William Conrad. Certainly a capable enough actor, Conrad's squat appearance just didn't match the description on radio of Dillon. Why do you think John Wayne was the first choice?

Besides the regulars on every week which included Dennis Weaver as the stiff legged somewhat mentally challenged Deputy Chester Goode, Milburn Stone as testy and cantankerous Doctor Galen Adams, and Amanda Blake as Matt's significant other, Kitty Russell of the Longbranch saloon, the writers were smart enough to make sure the producers kept a recurring cast of regulars as the townspeople. Roy Roberts the banker, Eddy Waller as the livery stable owner, Glenn Strange as the bartender in the Longbranch, and for a while Burt Reynolds as a blacksmith, popped up in several episodes a year, even just with a line or two. It kept a great sense of continuity and the whole community of Dodge City became like familiar friends.

Poor Dennis Weaver who related the stiff leg was his idea to establish individuality of his character and that he had to study yoga in order to walk with it and mount a horse said that he would have done something different if he knew how difficult it was going to be. He read for the Matt Dillon part and took the role of Chester because he needed the work. But after several seasons, he naturally did not want to spend his career typecast as a half wit. He quit and the rustic Festus Hagen came on as the Deputy. Festus was uneducated, but was by no means stupid. His arguments with the cantankerous Doc Adams were classic. Festus was played with real flair by Ken Curtis.

If Gunsmoke is remembered for something other than a really great western series, maybe the best we ever had on television, it's the show that was saved by White House intervention. Along about 1965 because of declining ratings CBS was considering giving it the axe. But in an interview Lady Bird Johnson happened to mention that Gunsmoke was her favorite television show. That offhand comment revived interest in the series and CBS kept Gunsmoke on for another decade.

Gunsmoke was an adult western, the plot situations were adult, but it's characters were both real and morally upright. Matt Dillon was no kid's cowboy hero like Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, but he was honest and decent and a fine role model who was incorruptible. And he and Kitty Russell had an adult romance going in the same manner as Perry Mason and Della Street. It was unspoken that sex as well as liquor was to be had at the Longbranch, but Miss Kitty had eyes only for the Marshal.

As did America for twenty satisfying years.

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8/10

Still The Best of All The Television Adult Westerns

mts4325 August 2020

"Gunsmoke" was the first television Western. The longevity of the series is for two basic reasons: excellent scripts and and excellent casting. James Arness as Matt Dillon and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams remained with the series for all 20 years; Amanda Blake as Kitty was a regular for 19 years; Dennis Weaver as Chester ("Have a cup of coffee, Mr. Dillon") for 9 years; and Ken Curtis as Festus for the last 11 years. The writers never felt compelled to changing the characters to hype the story, like marrying off Matt and Kitty. The stories were adult, and frequently had endings that the Lone Ranger would not have appreciated. Even Buck Taylor as Newly and Glenn Strange as Sam the bartender were cast members for many years, Taylor until the the series ended and Strange until his death. . When "Gunsmoke" was abruptly canceled, it still had solid ratings, so the cancellation was a surprise. At the time, CBS was known for its capricious programming changes during a period when they were trying to appeal to a younger audience.

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Gunsmoke will be remembered as the finest television western series of all time.

gitrich28 November 1998

I remember watching Gunsmoke in the late 1950's. In black and white or in color it was consistently good, in large part, due to its talented cast. Originally John Wayne was offered the part but felt TV was not his cup of tea. He recommended a tall, good looking James Arness to play Matt Dillon and the rest is history.For the first 9 years, Dennis Weaver played Matt's devoted friend and deputy. Amanda Blake was perfect in the role of Miss Kitty, who ran the local Dodge City saloon. Milburn Stone, a long time screen actor, was given the part of Doc Adams, an outspoken man with a heart of gold. Then there was Ken Curtis who played Festus Hagen, a lovable deputy who was an equal replacement for Dennis Weaver. For 20 years, Gunsmoke graced the television line up at CBS. It was a different western in that its scripts were often filled with emotional stories that developed its characters. It employed many of our finest actors in guest roles. Realistic filming in Thousand Oaks, Ca. and in southwest Utah added to its appeal. It still runs today on Nick at Night and continues to captivate its audience. It is just plain good!!!

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10/10

Gunsmoke still stands the test of time!!!

labenji-1216330 May 2020

I discovered Gunsmoke 34 years after it had been off the air, in 2008 by watching one of its late 1970's entry and was impressed, so I decided to start from the beginning and I am amazed by how a western tv show that began 14 years before I was even born could have been written to stand the test of time---65 years ago, and the early episodes (1 - 7) are some of the best written and acted human drama that can be applied to life today.

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10/10

Gunsmoke; second to none

vincentbarbeaux16 January 2020

Subconsciously I'm always comparing today's actors with the core actors of Gunsmoke, and today's actors come up short. Burt Reynolds In the book foreword of James Arness biography tells it best how behind the scenes how everyone took it so seriously that they were telling a story to show pretty much the truth of how it was in the late 1800s often based on true stories. The first half hour, black-and-white shows in my opinion were the best followed by the one hour black and whites, but after the 10th season it seemed to just become a basic well done drama, but I read that was caused by many people saying the early shows were too violent but more enjoyable to me as they were gritty as it probably actually was.

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10/10

Best T.V. Series - ever

napalmzappa22 December 2003

Unfortunately, I am a real 'greenhorn' when it comes to this show, being such a latecomer and all (endless thanks & kudos to 'The Western Channel') - but I know a quality series when I see one. I can't take my eyes off this thing once an episode gets going, and the characters, storylines and acting are all in a class of their own. All I can say is God Bless Marshall Dillon, Festus, Miss Kitty, Chester, Quint, Sam, Doc and all the rest of the characters and the actors who played them. There will never be another show that can even spit-shine the dust from Gunsmoke's boots.

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10/10

Highest rated episode in Gunsmoke's twenty year run

GSFE9 March 1999

The original title of "Kitty's Love Affair" was "End of the Run." The story depicted a gunfighter who fell in love with Kitty and hoped that, by buying a ranch and settling down, he could encourage her to marry him. The original ending had the gunfighter (Richard Kiley) hanged. Unfortunately, John Mantley, the producer, decided that, yet again, Matt would save the day. Before Mr. Kiley was cast in the role of Will Stambridge, the writers (S.L. Kotar and J.E. Gessler) were told there could be no kissing scenes between the gunfighter and Miss Kitty because "Gunsmoke fans would never allow it." After Richard accepted the role, the script was altered to allow Will to kiss Kitty four times! This was the highest rated episode in the twenty year history of Gunsmoke.

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10/10

A CLASSIC

kirbylee70-599-5261794 August 2020

Warning: Spoilers

The most original purely American genre of film and television is the western. Spawned from the drive west of settlers in our early history the stories that rose from those days became quite popular. Tales of Buffalo Bill and Bat Masterson flourished in pulp magazines. When movies came into vogue they were popular too, the first feature length film with a story actually being THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY in 1903. Radio jumped on the bandwagon too with numerous radio plays involving characters like THE LONE RANGER. When television began the genre followed and in 1959 there were 26 western shows on TV. Among those 26 shows was one that actually became one of the longest running series in TV history. That series was GUNSMOKE.

Starting out on radio with William Conrad in the lead role the series premiered on TV in 1955. It ran an astounding 20 years and was the longest running live action TV-series of all time until 2019 when LAW & ORDER: SVU passed it. The role of the main character in the show, Marshall Matt Dillon, was offered to John Wayne who turned it down. Movie stars did not appear in TV series back then. But he suggested a young protégé to play the part instead. His name was James Arness and he played the role for the entire run of the series.

The stories of GUNSMOKE revolved around Dillon and his friends in Dodge City, Kansas during the old west. This was one of those series that shared stories among the entire cast. Those characters included Chester, the Marshall's deputy, played by Dennis Weaver. There was Doc Adams played by Milburn Stone, a gruff old guy who took no guff. After Weaver left his character was replaced with Festus Haggen played by Ken Curtis. While some may not recall this for 3 seasons a character named Quint Asper, a half breed blacksmith, was added to the cast. He was played by a young actor named Burt Reynolds.

Perhaps the most famous of characters to stand beside Marshall Dillon though was Miss Kitty Russell. Played by Amanda Blake for over 500 episodes Miss Kitty was a "dance hall girl", a profession cleaned up for TV but who many knew what that meant. Romance between her and Matt was always hinted at for years. Eventually she became the owner of the Long Branch Saloon.

From 1955 through 1961 the show was a half hour long but changed to an hour long format after. It remained in the top rated shows early on and continued to do well the entire time it ran. It was considered one of the best shows ever made for TV and has been included in numerous lists of the best television ever made.

The stories were varied and ran from the usual to different kinds of stories found in westerns. Marshall Dillon faced off in numerous gun battles throughout the series and the show opened with one. There were stories about gold mines and stealing gold. There were stories about racial injustice like a Chinese man being run out of Dodge and Indians seeking revenge on a buffalo hunter. Land owners faced injustice until it was set right. Gunslingers had to face up to their pasts and outlaws were seen in tons of different situations. To think you could tell a different story for 20 years on a weekly TV series is amazing to consider.

So why talk about this now? It's been years since the series ended after all. The reason is that CBS/Paramount is now releasing the entire series on disc in one complete box set. The individual seasons have been released in the past but not every one of them is contained in this set, all 635 episodes. From the very first time Marshall Matt Dillon walked out in the street to take on the bad guys to the last are all here to be enjoyed. If you remember the show but your kids or grandkids have no idea what you're talking about, you can pull this out and let them watch with you. Some episodes will seem quaint to them but as it moved forward you can see how well developed the series became.

At a whopping $339 dollars it won't be likely that everyone will leap at the chance. But fans can take advantage of this collection now. Or several families could go in and share it. This would be binge watching taken to the extreme with 143 discs of material. Also included are great bonus features like episodic previews, original cast sponsor spots, audio commentaries, featurettes and more.

If you grew up with the great western television series then this is one collection worth adding to your shelf. The odds of a new western series appearing again aren't likely. We've become "too sophisticated" for those these days. Which means of you want to enjoy them this is the way to do so. Not only is it great history TV wise, its great entertainment as well. I'll be honest, I haven't come close to finishing watching this set. But I look forward to watching each new episode with each disc. I'll get there one day.

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9/10

God Bless Gunsmoke

cmartinez-355751 May 2021

During the Pandemic I discovered Gunsmoke that airs on a few Networks in So. Cal. I am so glad I came across this show. The radio shows were very good ones but I had never seen any of the TV shows. For me the black and white episodes are the best, color to me took something away from the authenticity. Still this is one of the if not the best shows ever done on television. The stories, the acting, the actors are some of the best. If you haven't seen many of the episodes please do as you will be glad you did.

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7/10

Howdy! Welcome To Dodge City Of The Old West

StrictlyConfidential18 April 2020

(*Trivia note of interest*) - Spanning for a total of twenty years (1955-1975) - "Gunsmoke" remains the longest-running, prime-time, live-action TV series of the 20th century.

Both actors James Arness, (as US Marshal, Matt Dillon) and Milburn Stone (as Dr. Galen "Doc" Adams) remained prominent in their roles in "Gunsmoke" for its entire 20-year running time.

During "Gunsmoke's" first six seasons its episodes were just twenty-five minutes in length and this certainly helped to keep the story-lines really tight, to-the-point, and free of superfluous filler scenes which tended to frequently bog down the action in many episodes of the latter seasons that were all fifty minutes in length.

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10/10

Greatest Western Series of all time

ronnie_blackiii13 August 2020

I am 50 years old, and really enjoy watching this show on TVLAND and INSP Network. I remember it when I was a kid, but I didn't appreciate it. This show is a great change from whats on now. I enjoy lots of new shows too, but this is a different time and they spared no expense creating it. It ran for over 20 years so that says a lot..I absolutely love watching it and spotting young movie stars who had roles in the series. Kurt Russell, Harrison Ford, and many others, even Ron Howard..If you're looking for a change and enjoy westerns, give it a shot..

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6/10

This Is Marshall Matt Dillon's Territory

strong-122-47888512 March 2018

Yippie-Yi-Yo-Ki-Yay!!

Welcome to the roughest, toughest, meanest town in the entire American West - Dodge City.

It's here that the no-nonsense marshal, Matt Dillon, tries to keep the peace as he confronts more than his fair share of some of the most ruthless outlaws, mean-mouthed rustlers, and trigger-happy gunslingers ever imagined.

So saddle up, folks! And get yourself ready for a rootin'-tootin' showdown of trailblazing action, drama, and excitement from TV's "Gunsmoke".

Yippie-Yi-Yo-Ki-Yay!!

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5/10

I like the last Nine years Better

Jrdmln24 October 2006

Warning: Spoilers

My comment is about what my favorite seasons are.my favorite years are the last Nine Years,Which were from 1966-1975.I like the first 11 seasons too.I just thought the last Nine year were the best.One reason is that I like color better than Black and White,and the opening theme song was better in the last Nine Years,and in the First Ten seasons James Arness was the only person in the Opening Theme song.That is why I like Last Nine Years of the show the best.What Years do you guys like?Just to let you know when I posted this I did it on 10-24-06 2006.My Email address is Jrdmln@yahoo.com.Gunsmoke is my all time Favorite TV show.

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Gunsmoke: The Early Years

dougdoepke9 October 2007

Those of us old enough remember Gunsmoke as a cultural landmark. Not only did the show usher in the era of the adult Western, but it also brought to series TV some strong dramatic values not much in evidence at the time. Few of us ever expected the show would last as long as it did. Nonetheless, there are some good reasons for the longevity. Those reasons, I believe, are most noticeable during about a five-year period from 1956 through the early 60's, and are worth focusing on for fans of the series.

The first year (1955) was far from the best, but it did put in place several elements that would mature powerfully over the following period. Of course, there's the cast of those early years. Above all, there's James Arness as the Marshal. Once Arness gets into the role after an uneven start, he's simply superb as the show's long-time anchor. Dennis Weaver's Chester is memorably easy to parody, with his slow wits and distinctive down-home drawl. But Weaver's also a fine actor, who provided his character with a rare measure of pathos unequaled by other supporting players over the 20 year run. There was always the chance that Chester's "comic relief" would descend into buffoonery, but Weaver and the producers handled the risk well. Milburn Stone's Doc adds a lot of color to the core cast, but he also trafficked in a lot of self-conscious mannerisms for my taste. Nonetheless, he mixed well with the others, while his caustic bantering with the over-matched Chester could be both unforced and funny. And, of course, there's Amanda Blake's Kitty, the good-hearted saloon-keeper, who a led a rather implausibly chaste private life. But here we're dealing with the mores of the time. The fact is that Blake brings just the right emotional tone to a character that was more constrained than the others. The cast may not seem so special on paper, but on screen the chemistry was superb.

The 1955 entries opened with an unusual prologue-- Matt's little contemplative walk through Boot Hill where he pondered the fate of those mouldering in their graves.These reflective moments set an unusual tone for an action genre. Plus, they provided an extra dimension that took us outside the story by suggesting there are larger meanings within which the story would unfold. These were not heavy-handed messages, but rather subtle suggestions that moral lessons can be drawn from the stories that follow. The prologue was dropped after the first year, perhaps because the writers had exhausted the brief time frame. Nonetheless, the undercurrent continued for the next few years, especially in Matt's reactions to how some stories turned out. In "Brother Whelp" (1959), for example, he finds out the unexpected truth behind two brothers' rivalry over the same girl,. His perplexed reactions in the final few seconds indicate an attempt to come to grips with the strange ways of the world, ones that continue to elude his grasp. Thus, the episode ends on a subtly contemplative note, unusual for that day or any day. It's this inner dimension present at times during the early years that is often overlooked.

Above all, however, it was the superior scripts that distinguished the series during this period. The excellence, I believe, was largely due to one man-- John Meston, who appears to have served as head writer until 1965. Note how many of the best screen-plays were either penned by him or taken from his ideas. He came to the TV production from the radio version where I expect he honed his skills. Those skills are in real evidence from 1956 to the early 60's. (And I expect it's no accident that this is the same time-frame during which Norman Mac Donnell served as series producer-- the man responsible for assembling the production crew.) Meston's specialty was dramatic structure. His best scripts are tight, suspenseful, and about as realistic as constraints of the time would allow. At his best, there was a dark inkling of just how difficult life on the Kansas frontier was. It's those moments I like best when some sorry homesteader or drifter confronts moments of personal anguish in the face of never-ending hard work, hostile Indians, and unforgiving elements-- in short, those rare moments of historical truth. Few series of the time bothered with the actual plight of prairie sod-busters. But Meston sometimes did. He was also good at limning colorful characters, building suspense, and also, surprisingly for the day, giving women strong roles in a genre that traditionally downplayed them. Together with Mac Donnell, I believe these two are largely responsible for Gunsmoke's "golden age". Too bad, their behind-the-scenes contributions have never been duly recognized.

I haven't seen all the entries from this 5-year period, but I have seen the majority. So let me recommend a few that I think are worth catching up with. "The Guitar"(1955), easily the best of the first season, scripted by the legendary maverick, Sam Peckinpah, and no doubt the only entry of that period to implicate cast principals in a major crime!; "Ma Tennis" (1958), an original concept, superbly directed by Buzz Kulik, with a number of dramatic twists; "Jayhawkers" (1959), an effective glimpse of a Texas trail crew, with a surprising dramatic turn by Jack Elam; "Kangaroo" (1959) a fearsome entry, with hulking, Bible spouting Peter Whitney showing no mercy to even his sons; and,"The Cabin" (1958), an unusual noirish entry that somehow got past the censors.

None of this is to deny that later entries in the series lacked merit. However, I do think the series soon lost the edge and tightness of this peak period. I'm only sorry that copies are so difficult to obtain. Most are worth a look-see, even in our era of super-charged TV.

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10/10

Gunsmoke The Western TV Watching Odyssey

happipuppi1327 April 2022

Warning: Spoilers

On December 26th, 2013 , I set out to watch all 635 episodes of Gunsmoke on DVD. Checking out each season , one at a time, from my local library. Then, watch all 5 TV movies.

Pretty easy to get through each season at the start, episodes were only 30 minutes, so I got up to the one hour episodes in pretty good time. Now of course it took longer but that was okay, it was worth the time invested and by January of 2015 , I had gotten through the first 11 seasons.

Then, annoyingly, CBS home video took a long time to get to the next season ,but it finally came out. ...and "then" it was like watching grass grow for all the color seasons next. But, by the start of 2020 , I was up to season 16.

The virus scare and lockdown of 2020 detained my getting the next seasons. Once lockdown was lifted, my local library straightened things out but I had to stay in the car while they brought them out to me.

When I finally got to Seasons 19 and 20 it was Autumn. I finished Season 20 on October 15th, 2020. I had completed the series. Then I took the next few weeks to get the 5 T. V. movies. On Saturday, December 26th, 2020 , I watched the final movie, 7 years to the day of starting the series.

I didn't want to write up a review until I had finished everything.

Now I can honestly say, every bit of Gunsmoke (The TV Series) is worth it. ( I know...'why not stream' ? - I didn't have the service then.)

Maybe in the early shows, it sounds and is acted like a radio show (which it was at the time) and the 30 minute stories are resolved fairly quick but, in a way that's plausible and makes good sense , while still having good well acted drama.

As the shows seasons pass, the characters get better fleshed out and each actor has found what makes their character who they are and what their purpose is. When the show went to an hour, then , the resolution at the end is even more satisfyng and realistic.

James Arness as Matt Dillon is a powerhouse performance by then and it's become clear that while he can be shot, it seems he lives a charmed or very blessed life, to where he has to live to serve justice.

In one show, a man tries to shoot him from a slow moving stagecoach and is stunned by the fact he missed him from just a few feet away. The Marshal's more physical (using his fists) ways pf justice wouldn't fly today, in our 21st century, but his sense of right and wrong is surely welcome.

A lot of those 'amazing escapes' wouldn't be possible without Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) , then Festus Hagen (Ken Curtis) , Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) , Doc aka 'Galen' Adams (Milburn Stone) , Newly (Walter "Buck" Taylor) or citizens in Dodge showing their support in a posse or in other manners .

Matt doesn't want revenge shootings or lynchings to be sure.

The other lead actors , just as strongly as Arness can play it all in an even level heavy, good humor , light hearted and going toe to toe mean with the lawless.

The show was very much the adult outing that John Wayne introduced it to be and it didn't whitewash (much) when it came to the shootings and violence. (As far as censors would let everything get anyway.)

The mid-1960s , the show started focusing equally on our main characters and situations revolving around the many residents of Dodge or people passing through . Some needing saving, assistamce, some geting on the wrong side of the law.

By 1967, some felt that the paint was wearing off on Gunsmoke, even in color. CBS almost cancelled it, but CBS's President William Paley was convinced by his wife not too (it was her favorite show).

Aside from that, what also saved the show ,was getting even grittier than ever in it's approach. The TV landscape was beginning to change, with all the serious things going on in America, it had too. We actually heard 'damn' and 'h*** on the show (no other swears allowed).

This new attitude led to the most shocking episode ever at the time. In 1968, the episode titled, "Mannon". A cold, heartless, ruthless almost clinically mean and insane character comes to Dodge.

He shoots Festus for no reason, he alienates the townspeople (who "will" get shot if they don't comply) and the toughest part to watch , although we don't see this action, he rapes Miss Kitty behind bar in the Long Branch saloon. I wont give away how it ends but , never had such a storyline been so frightening for this show

After this season, the show started filming outdoors more and using the fake Dodge set less, giving it a more realistic feel , like you were actually out in the old west. They were able to make darker shows but still have some thoughtful or very poignant episodes.

Some episode have the cinematography one would think you'd only find in movies seen in a theater. Which makes outdoor scenes very colorful and alive.

They did one more very dark show. "Hostage" This time Kitty is kidnapped by a gang , led by a man who almost equals Mannon is violence and craziness. When Matt wont show up for a gunfight, they ride back in with her but not before they've beaten her (offscreen) and maybe more .

The leader Bonner (played by now late actor & stuntman William Smith) throws her into the Dodge street and shoots her point blank. Talk about the chills running through a person, they sure did with me.

Gunsmoke stayed on until 1975. The last show was, "The Sharecroppers" but to make the end more satisfying to me and have more of a true finale , I saved, "The Guns of Cibola Blanca" for last.

Take my word, it's non stop drama and action and feels like a conclusion and is a 2 parter, so it's like a full feature movie.

As for the later 5 T. V. films, they're good all around. Best one in my view is "The Last Apache"

In order they are :

Return To Dodge 1987 -

The Last Apache 1990 -

To The Last Man 1992 -

The Long Ride 1993 -

One Man's Justice 1994 .

Gunsmoke is TEN STAR entertainment all the way through, all 40 years if it. (1954 *When production started* to the final 1994 film.)

Hold it! If you choose to binge watch it too.... don't skip a thing. (END)

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10/10

Thoughtful Subject Matter

kennysmail200127 June 2018

Many of the topics they discuss on Gunsmoke are based on solid facts. Not when they are goofing around of course, but during those thoughtful moments on topics of food, health or the beginning of a plague outbreak. Most programs speak in generalities, or just plain vague about the subject matter. Most of the main characters of the program tend to be great role models for people eight to twenty years of age. Almost without fail each shows story plot has some sort of moral to it. Gunsmoke is as it was in 1955, a number one T.V. Show that's being enjoyed by the children of the generation that created Gunsmoke. Matt's favorite phrases, "Hold It" "Don't try it". Happy viewing. K. Jones

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10/10

Simply the best Western ever

ras17007125 June 2018

Doing a review of Gunsmoke is a labor of love. 635 episodes over twenty years! Starred James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, the steadfast beacon of Dodge City, dogged in his pursuit of killers, thieves and villains. Amanda Blake portrayed the beautiful, fiery Miss Kitty Russell, the proprietor of the Long Branch saloon, and Milburn Stone as the curmudgeon Doc Adams, always stroking his face and patching up countless wounds. Marshal Dillon's sidekick was first Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, the loyal helper with a limp who always seemed to encounter trouble. Burt Reynolds was Quint Asper, the half-breed blacksmith who could fight with his hands or a gun. And in Season 9, the introduction of Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen, Matt's deputy, the tough, whiskered companion, whose running verbal feuds with Doc Adams ( you ole scudder! ) were always of great amusement. In the early seasons of Gunsmoke, the introductory soliloquy by Matt Dillon as he walked ruefully through Boot Hill cemetery, reflecting on the unfortunate inhabitants, and remarking that men were quicker to draw their guns than to draw upon their logic in the face of danger. The acting was hallmark, the stories exciting and a great cast of characters who appeared in each episode, such as John Dehner, Darren McGavin, Steve Forrest, Morgan Woodward, Lee J. Cobb, John Anderson, Richard Kiley, Ricardo Montalban, Betty Davis, Bruce Dern, Nehemiah Persoff and James Gregory to name a select few. The show's themes of courage, redemption, justice, honor, revenge, love and loyalty stand as timeless monuments to the greatness of each week's episode. Gunsmoke defines the western genre as none other ever will!

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10/10

A 10 Star Review From a Completely Different Perspective !

jlynnsail31 August 2020

First, I want to agree to every positive word said about Gunsmoke and ALL of the actors throughout the series. I grew up watching every episode of Gunsmoke that I could. More than entertaining TV, you actually learned 'Life Lessons' from the stories. They were all top of the line. But, more than that.....

In 1955, I was only SEVEN YEARS OLD when Gunsmoke started. By the time I turned 18 years old, I was still glued to the TV every time it came on. In 1967, just as the new Fall series was getting started, I had the rug pulled out from under my feet when I was drafted into the U. S. Army. No more TV and no more Gunsmoke for me. Then I was sent to Vietnam, where I spent 13 months of my two year tour of duty.

When I returned to my civilian life back in Oklahoma in 1969, I had no interest in watching ANY TV . I had no idea, and would never have expected that Gunsmoke was still on the air. Time went by ever so slowly as I had to deal with a devastating condition, unknown to me at the time, as PTSD. Eventually there came a time when I ran out of booze, money and none of my friends were available to run around with to get my mind off of all of the things I didn't want to think about.

So I turned on the TV and started flipping through the channels. Good God Almighty!!! There before my eyes was an episode of Gunsmoke. I couldn't believe it! I settled back in my chair and started watching, getting drawn into the story, loving the characters, and escaping from the life I wanted to get away from. From then on I could barely stand it until the next week when it would come on again.

Now this story may sound a little fantastic to some of you. But I honestly believe that all of those characters and stories on Gunsmoke helped to save my life. They gave me something to look forward to, something to really enjoy once again. And as time went by, other things developed in my life, for the better, and better and better. Thank you Matt and Kitty, Chester and Festus, Doc, Sam, Newley and all the others. Thank you Gunsmoke for all of those wonderful shows!!!

AND, Yes, of course, I am watching all of the reruns on the various cable channels I can find. Yeeeeehaaaaa!

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10/10

A realistic "Old West" television show with great characters and stories....

jsignoretta27 December 2013

As a youngster I fell in love with the show during it's last five years on the air....thank God for reruns.....fantastic story writing and actors. I love the early episodes as well as the later episodes. They had a great way of bringing in new characters on a transitional basis, who would eventually become regulars and keep making the show even better; Festus being the best. It kept a real continuity to the show. The show was realistic in that it didn't always have a completely happy ending all the time.....but always provided a moral to the story....something Hollywood has mostly forgotten about today....It could be rough and showed how violent the Old West could be but yet the tight friendship between the main characters had a way of warming your heart.

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10/10

Don't Make Shows Like They Used To

shelbythuylinh21 November 2021

Warning: Spoilers

As the late James Arness as US Marshal Matt Dillion a man of a few words but man of more action there. As he keeps law and order in lawless Dodge City with a help of supporting characters like bar owner Miss Kitty.

Still it is not just action but has wit and charm and that over in drama there. And trying to solve the day's or show's case of the week or problems before it becomes a bigger one.

Still a hoot there.

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6/10

He hung his hat up at Kitty's place every night

QueenoftheGoons31 May 2022

I finally got the complete series in 2020 and Dad had passed away to not watch it with me. If i was born a boy i was to be named Matthew after Matt Dillon. So before 4/26/20 i had never seen a black and white or Chester. Nimoy is no Injun. Love it when Festus talks & sings in his real voice. Love the song 6 shiny black horses. Gotta deal with that Kim Darby i can't stand her. She gets her come uppance though in Halloween 666. Kitty and Dillon were banging every night, it was so obvious. Ands he was going to retire his badge till a wh*re got hurt. Buy they valued them women, not worth a penny. Steve Forrest almost killed Kitty, sadly though he does not. The reasons why i watch it - Jaffe, Milford, Ruskin, Haig, Bramley, Larch, Cleef, Brand, Davis, Strange who is so cute, Holman, Watson, and all the other sexy villain's that guest star.

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10/10

The Gold Standard of TV Westerns

alexandercl-9957519 October 2021

Where to start.. I could talk about the chemistry between Matt, Doc, Chester-Festus, Kitty, Quint, Sam, Louie. I could compliment Directors Andrew McLaglen, Harry Harris, Jr., Vincent McEveety and others. I could rave about writers John Meston, David Victor, Herbert Little Jr., and Sam Peckinpah. But what sets this show apart from all the rest is the number of future Hollywood icons that got a major boost appearing on Gunsmoke.

Beau Bridges, Gary Busey, Richard Dreyfus, Leslie Nielsen, David Carradine, Charles Bronson, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Kurt Russell, Morgan Brittany, Susan Oliver, Kathleen Nolan, Burt Reynolds... these are just a few who's careers were catapulted by appearing on Gunsmoke.

And an array of established actors such as Bruce Dern, Martin Landau, Chuck Connors, Adam West, Dennis Hopper, Warren Oates, Jon Voight, Jeannette Nolan, Tom Skerritt, Edgar Buchanan, Morgan Woodward, Jim Davis, Michael Landon, Victor French, Susan Oliver, Sue Ann Langdon, Lee Van Cleef, Carol O'Connor, Leslie Ann Warren, Dyan Cannon and the immortal Bette Davis... I could go on. They are just a sampling of the amazing talents to appear over the 20 year history. Few if any programs can boast that claim .

I'm biased as blazes because Gunsmoke is my favorite tv western of all time.. just as James Arness is my favorite actor. Gunsmoke was a once in a lifetime offering.. never to be equaled.

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7/10

A CLASSIC WESTERN

mozart-7326824 November 2022

I give Gunsmoke (black and white, with Chester) a 10-star. Then I give the remaining seasons with Festus a 4-star. So, that comes out to a 7-Star.

Chester (Dennis Weaver) was a huge part of the show's success. Chester's character is so real, and Dennis Weaver is a genius actor. Chester is goofy, yet serious. He never carries a gun, but is right there to use one if the situation calls for it. He is child like, but likes to drink and loves flirting with pretty girls. Not to mention that he plays the guitar and sings. Further, the touch of friendly antagonism with Chester and Doc seems genuine and entertaining.

When Festus came on the scene, the show went downhill, in my opinion. Festus is just too over-the-top. His scruffy appearance got old after a while, and his constant whining became irritating. Festus tried to replicate the friendly antagonism that Chester had with Doc, but could not pull it off; always looked fake to me.

If you have the opportunity to watch the Chester Gunsmokes, do so....they are great!

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4/10

Very Weird Series

angelsunchained10 October 2023

This must rate as one of the most bizarre and weird Western television series ever. Hard to understand how this remained on television for twenty years. Sheriff Matt Dillon is basically a serial killer. He just shoots people dead without blinking an eye literally every episode. He is either asexual or neutered. No interest in females. He never once kisses anyone. No romance. Nothing. Whoever wrote the scripts for this show was a weirdo. Romance and kissing is out, but constant killings and even sadistic behavior by almost all the villains is the norm. The acting wasn't anything to write home about. Most performances were flat, wooden and totally void of emotion. People are killed off without a blink of an eye. It is all ho hum. Enough said.

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Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

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